Week 9/10 Tasks

Hi guys,

By now, your 400 word profile should be complete, at least in its rough draft stage. I have checked all the profiles which were posted by April 5 (afternoon) -- that's long after the deadline set and extended. Most of you finished. Congratulations! I will return edited profiles tomorrow (April 7) in class and you can then edit your post and publish a perfect final draft.

If you did not write a profile yet, well, catch up fast! Sorry, but I will not be proofreading this assignment if you finished late and nor will I proofread upcoming assignments that are published late.

Hey, remember, I also want to see at least two pictures posted on your blog. Pictures of you as a child are particularly appreciated - remember how cute Mohamed Al Marzouqi's picture was?! I also posted some childhood pictures.

Well, here's what we still need to do in weeks 9 & 10 ( from : http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/hd1/blog/cool/index.htm)

• Look at the updated Critical Thinking Powerpoint here (495kb), or watch it online in Flash here
• Work in groups and study the PowerPoint, then summarize it and make a Voicethread (http://voicethread.com/) explaining to Emirati secondary school students why critical thinking is so important.

* We'll take a look at the Critical Thinking PowerPoint in class together, then you can

a) summarise its contents (write a 100+ word post entitled Critical Thinking Summary - spellcheck please!)
b) make a 4-5 minute Voicethread - give the link in your post. Well, to be honest, I'm only learning Voicethread now, but I know Rashed will figure it out instantly and can teach us!

Below are a few useful phrases you can use for your Voicethread to explain why critical thinking is important. Note that you should give at least 3 reasons (main points) and some specific examples (details) to support your points - just like in those lovely essays you write for Mr. Roger.

Photo 1
Hello. My name's "Ahmed" and I'm going to give you an overview of critical thinking and explain why it's important. (list levels in Bloom's taxonomy)
Critical thinking is defined as ...
Photo 2
There are a number of reasons why it's significant.
One reason is that ... (give one level and match it with a practical application. E.g. analysis - important for solving math problems)
Photo 3
Furthermore, this way of thinking merits consideration because ... (mention another level)
OR additionally, people need to think critically since ...
Photo 4
Finally/Last ... (choose one more level)
Photo 5
In sum, critical thinking ...

I would suggest using one photo (image) for each main point -- you have one minute of talking time for each photo you post. So, five slides could be suitable: one for the introduction, 3 for main points (3 main points), and one for the conclusion. You can also include a picture of yourself if you like. Include a link to your Voicethread and/or invite me (teverest@hct.ac.ae) and your friends to view it.

Guys, a and b are due by Monday, April 21 (midnight) at the latest - and they, along with your profile, will count for the first 20% of your blog mark. If you want me to read and comment on a) and b) the deadline is Tuesday, April 15, midnight. Take your pick. Obviously, your mark will be better if you finish a) and b) by April 15 ... And if you finish after the 21st, you will be penalised for lateness -- but I know everybody will finish on time. (: Good luck!

T.J.

Photos of TJ as a child

Hi again guys! I got a letter from my mother the other day. She was cleaning up and found a lot of old photos, so she mailed some to me - yes, the old-fashioned way in the post. I scanned them so that I could show them to you.

The first picture features me in a dress that my mother made for me. Actually, she hates sewing, but I guess she was happy to have a little girl so she made this dress for me. I was one and a half years old at the time. My grandmother thought I was angelic and sweet ... She didn't know how tough I would become later! When I was a teenager, I hated wearing dresses. My mother made a rule: that I had to wear one at least once a month to church!

In the second picture, I'm a little older, about 3, and evidently quite active already (although I hadn't discovered bicycles yet). This picture was taken in the winter in Calgary near my grandparents' home.

The last picture features me reading. I was an avid reader as a child and am a "bookworm" to this day. I used to walk to the local library every Friday as a child, return many a book, and take out many new ones. I then had to lug them home -- 1 kilometre up a steep hill! I read all the time: on long family trips, in church (secretly), at school (under my desk) and in bed at night. My Mom used to come to my bedroom and tell me to stop reading when I finished a chapter. However, I was usually so engrossed in the book that I would forgot altogether and just keep reading. By the time she checked on me again, I would already be well into the next chapter, so, again, she would tell me to stop after I finished that chapter. And on it went.

Gosh, look at that long hair and the freckles (spots) on my nose and cheeks! It's hard to believe that's me, but it is! (;

My Profile (About me)

Hi guys!


In this section, I'd like you to introduce yourself. Tell us who you are. You can write about your past, present, and future dreams and hopes. 3 paragraphs or more could be suitable; please write at least 400 words and include some pictures and possibly links to interesting sites. It's a good idea to spell-check before you post!


As for me, I was born February 13, 1970 in Kamloops. This town is close to Vancouver in the most westerly province in Canada. My parents moved to Salmon Arm, my "real" hometown, when I was just a few years old. I have one brother, Tom, who is 2.5 years younger than I am. He's now married and his wife will have a baby daughter in June.




You already know my hobby: bicycle riding. My parents started me riding when I was young and it is because our family often made weekend rides together that I grew to love this sport. I made my first big trip (600 kilometres) when I was 18. My longest day so far is 232 kilometres (in Japan), and my longest trip 5,414 kilometres (in Europe). I have ridden in more than 25 countries so far and intend to keep on cycling for life!






Well, it's not my only hobby. I like all sports and am particularly keen on hiking. Again, it's probably because my parents took me camping and hiking on every summer vacation when I was young. At that time, I didn't enjoy carrying a heavy pack, but now I don't mind. I often go hiking on Jebel Qatar in Oman (near Buraimi) - yes, that's me on Jebel Qatar in the picture on the left.










One more hobby or interest worth mentioning is Servas. This is a non-profit travel organisation which encourages cross-cultural understanding. Servas members can stay for free with members in other countries and, of course, members sometimes come and stay with me. One Italian guest, for example, came to make a film about the Abu Dhabi falcon club. I've also hosted guests from Korea, Canada, and Germany. In the picture on the right, you can see Servas UAE members at a dinner party at my apartment. Ok, yes, this is kind of an "advertisement": check out http://www.servas.org/



As you guys know, my job now is teaching English at ADMC. I've been here almost four years. Before that, I taught at a university in Korea for seven years. Prior to that, I taught English to immigrants in Montreal. Naturally, I had to get some qualifications before I started teaching. I have a B.A. in English and German and a master's degree from Glasgow (Scotland) in English Linguistics. At ADMC, I also completed a diploma in language teaching (DELTA).



Now I'm taking a rest from more studies. However, I am considering a Ph.D. someday ... maybe. Actually, I think the best Ph.D. is in "life". For me, that means enjoying every moment and learning as much as possible through travel and study. In the future, Ph.D. or no Ph.D., I'd like to have a family, live in at least two more countries, and, of course, keep on travelling on my beloved bicycle!


Your turn ... Tell me about you!
T.J.